[mabbo]

I think you and I have worked at very different companies.

In large organizations, typically, promotions come from proving you are working at a given level. It's not a competition at all.

Promotion also doesn't mean "becoming the manager"- I mean promotion to a higher level as an individual contributor. Junior Dev, Senior Dev, Staff Dev, etc.

And the question was very well received when I asked it.

[jollybean]

"It's not a competition at all."

It's absolutely a competition. The thresholds for promotion resonate around capabilities designed at certain thresholds. The organization is a pyramid, they are not going to just promote everyone along a tract, even if it's not managerial.

And, very few companies have seriously well developed tracts for technical staff. There are 'bands' within every company surely, but most of the world is not like the FAANGS in this regard.